Reptiles and amphibians have a certain popularity in Hong Kong, but many suffer from inadequate care, according to Karthi Krishnasamy, who handles plenty of these animals at Happy Pets veterinary centre in Tai Hang.
'Reptiles are cool. I am a Malaysian and used to live on the fringe of the forest. We grew up seeing snakes and monitor lizards as our normal fauna. And we had so many snakes as pets, often rescued snakes.'
At work in Hong Kong, the veterinarian sees ball pythons, bearded dragons, chameleons and different species of turtles - most commonly red-eared sliders, a type of terrapin - and other species such as red-footed tortoises, sulcata and leopard tortoises.
'I think pet reptiles suffer more than any other pets. They are hardy animals and survive despite the poor care that many owners give them. If a dog or a cat is kept badly, everyone is quick to notice, but a pet reptile's suffering just goes unseen,' Krishnasamy says.
'For example, we've seen a red-eared slider that was kept on land for 12 years and only offered water during feeding.
'She was severely stunted and deformed. The owner, although genuinely attached to the terrapin, was completely unaware of his pet's husbandry needs. He was shocked to be told that this is an aquatic animal.